Post Traumatic Growth Institute

Post Traumatic Growth Institute The Post Traumatic Growth Institute exists to help military personnel and their families .

09/02/2026

Hello PTGI Family and Friends,

Finished 2nd Kings and of course it's traumatic. The Israelites have been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and are being carted off to Babylon in droves with only a small contingent of poor people left behind to be vine dressers and care takers of various properties. It truly is a sad state of affairs. You can't ignore God and His covenant, then expect everything will be okay. Father God has warned them in the past that He is a vengeful God and doesn't take kindly being kicked to the curb so you can do whatever you want. There are always consequences for your actions and inactions.
Friends, what I just mentioned applies today as much as it did back then. Our Heavenly Father is ever watchful; there is nothing that can be done in secret. You may hide things from friends, family, and work but not from God. He sees your every step and intention be it good or bad.
Being a Christian is a new lifestyle...when we put our faith in Jesus, we are called to become a new person to put away the foolishness of our old lives and step forward...walking in the footsteps of Christ. Are we still sinners? Yes, we are but we should emulate Christ to the best of our abilities. Each day we should put our best foot forward as we try to endure the frantic mess of this world. Nowhere does it say that life will become easier and we will walk smooth levels paths towards our goal. Our assurance is that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be with us as we go.
I'm so thankful for that fact, the road has been rough, but I've seen the Lord work wonders along the way to help me get to the next point in my life. The Holy Trinity will do the same for you, just have a little faith and patience...the blessings will flow even if you don't recognize them.

Have a glorious day. Peace and grace to you all - Dave

08/27/2026

Greetings PTGI Friends and Family,

I hit that pivotal moment in 2nd Kings when King Josiah takes control and tell the Head Priest Hilkiah to take the monetary donations that are given to the temple and spend on repairs. Josiah recognizes the need and does what's in his heart.
While repairs are ongoing, Hilkiah discovers a book hidden away in one of the many storerooms and recognizes its importance. He gives the book to Shaphan who reads its and takes it to the King and reads it to him.
Low and behold they found the Book of the Law written by Moses. With great remorse King Josiah tears his clothes and weeps...he understands how far Israel has fallen. So, Josiah asks the priests to inquire of God, he knows retribution is at hand for all the evil that has been done, but God sees the penitent heart of Josiah.

Friends, if I had to tear my clothes for the evil that resides around me...well I'd have none. I'd have to go get an old wooden barrel, put some straps on it to go over my shoulders a trudge around in that till the end of my days.
I grew up in the sixties and seventies; life was a lot different then. There weren't any cell phones or internet, folks had cookouts, parties, and camped out...spending their time in polite conversations. People revered the church and what it stood for, now churches are closing left and right due to the lack of parishioners. We've moved into an era of evil (my opinion) and we need someone to come along and kickstart a return to Christ.

Folks, pray for family, friends, leadership, the nation, but most importantly to God for his divine will to be done. We're asking for a resurgence, a return to worship, seeking the blessings of the Holy Trinity on our world.

Praise be to you Father for your continued blessings on this nation. - Dave

08/26/2026

Good Afternoon All,

As my lovely mind likes to wander through the vastness of time, I get struck by some of the most curious thoughts at times. Usually related to God and His infinite benevolence.

We all search the world to fill an emptiness that resides within us, this built in yearning or longing speaks to us regularly. We are unsure of what exactly belongs in that space, but we know that there is a need to fill it in order to bring satisfaction.
Some will spend a lifetime putting things in this void, finding that with each try to satiate the ache it doesn't quite meet the need. So, we toss aside what we thought would work and begin searching again and again...never finding that one particular item that quells the urge that calls us daily.
It comes to a point that we just fill the emptiness with meaningless notions, stuff, or worldly possessions that appease our own mindset and live with the incompleteness. We smile and trudge our way through life hoping that we've done what was required to fill the space.

Is this your life? Did you just stuff this space full of useless junk in order to hold off the constant hunger for peace and satisfaction? I did for the longest time...so frustrating cause I could never keep the craving gratified. It always came back and usually stronger than before. Then one day I saw something that grabbed my attention and pointed to the answer I had been searching for. What a relief. Finally, I could stop my incessant search and fill the emptiness.

You guessed it...God, Christ, the Holy Spirit were what I needed to fill this emptiness. I sat there for the longest time wondering why it took so long to recognize this need. Truth be told, I think the Heavenly Father was waiting for me to mature. To be able to accept the gift He was about to give me so that I could use it wisely and pass it along to others in need of grace.

Grace, it's the one thing that there is always an abundance of and it fills our emptiness with hope, love, and peace, thank you Lord for filling our cups daily.

-Dave

08/25/2026

Greetings PTGI Friends and Family,

Another glorious day. I'm reading through 2nd Kings and I've reached the point where Isreal as a nation is in dire straits. Assyria has been conquering their territory with each assault and you can see the cataclysmic fall coming. The people will be carried off and few will every return...what's left of the Jewish peoples lies in a small remnant. We will see this happen many more times in the coming Old Testament books. Sadness. How easily it is to walk away from God.
We unfortunately do the same thing. We get caught up in the antics of an out-of-control world and forget who to rely on. We watch news and other sorted information venues that are skewed one way or another. We don't seek God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit for help or clarification. We rarely trust in the divine providence of our creator. We look to our own limited knowledge and resources to stabilize the chaos that targets us from all sides.
Where did we go wrong? When did our morals take a second or third seat in life? Like the Israelites of the Old Testament, we simply walked away from God and started believing in new gods...money, ambition, and self. These are but a few of the aspects we overindulge in. On their own each is not a debilitating item as long as we're working within God's will. It's when we start believing we can do a better job, then things get out of proportion and things go wrong.
The Israelites will and do surrender and seek God for absolution. We need to do the same...it's never too late to ask for forgiveness and help. It does require surrender though...are you ready and willing to trust the Father, Son, and Spirit with your life? I am!

Peace, love, and a cup of grace from our Savior Jesus to you all -Dave

08/23/2026

Greetings All,

It's rare that I ask but would appreciate some prayers for myself. It's one of the health issues that if caught early enough it can be fixed and watched, or it's going to be a battle till the end. I know who is in charge and His will be done.
So, thanks in advance for the prayers. Peace and grace - Dave

08/23/2026

Hey Everyone,

I'm making progress in 1 Kings. These are interesting historical documents of the various people who ruled in Isreal, though it was broken into two different pieces...Judah being one and the other oddly enough was Samaria.
Now the Samarian side was always in turmoil with only a few excepts. Most of the Kings didn't follow God's word as written and consequently this affected the people under their rule. They worshiped the Baals, high places, Ashtaroth, and did despicable deeds to themselves and their children.
I believe that still happens even today. We've had leadership in the past that had a really negative influence and subsequently affected the views, stance, and morals of a once proud and noteworthy nation. Friends, prayer is by far one of the most powerful things we can do to effect change. I pray daily for friends, family, people in need, and most importantly leadership of our nation. Every level of oversight needs prayer...do you pray for your city and state? Nation?
The sovereignty of God didn't apply just then in the Old and New Testament...it's an everlasting lordship. Read through 1st and 2nd Kings and see what I'm talking about. Take time to familiarize yourselves with what was written. Then ask our Heavenly Father for enlightenment and understanding. Look and listen to our leadership in all its forms and be aware of their stance with God. If they can't stand in the light of grace, then it's time for new leadership. The world is watching, are we good stewards of what God has provided?

Love and grace to a grateful nation - Dave

08/19/2026

Greetings All,

Was just reviewing some previous notes I wrote in one of the many Bibles I own. I see the Lord refining my thinking about scripture and how it applies to my life and also my interactions with others, especially those with a military background. Doesn't matter what branch of service you're from there still exists comraderies that aren't nearly as evident within the civilian sector.
I've read a new Bible version each year to gain perspective. While I have my few favorite interpretations, there are others that I have great disdain for because they exclude verses from the Bible. That has a negative connotation from my point of view and tells me the writers are pushing an earthly/human agenda.
Friends, be careful what you read. When scripture is excluded from print, there are underlying issues with their Biblical principles. I'm won't name the versions, but they have a more emotional feel to them. You can figure it out. Use a good Bible app and do your own research, do a comparison and see what pans out.
Satan pushes his way into our lives in any way he can...the Bible is not excluded. If he can usurp our understanding of God's word he will. We unwittingly believe we are safe within the confines of the church, yet even Satan can stand in the throne room of God.
I say all this because when I speak with veterans and first responders, I want to present accurate and solid Godly principles. I don't want to second guess myself or have those I speak to second guess me when I present something to them that can help them move forward. I want them to see God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit as a solid foundation in which they can anchor themselves. I think that applies to everyone. Let me know your thoughts.

Peace and grace from our loving Holy Father to you - Dave

08/18/2026

Well Hello All,

Sorry for not being on. Was up again to the ranch in S. Dakota. We were hosting a veteran's rehabilitation group call "The Ranch Foundation" which uses a holistic approach to help veterans cope with issues like PTSD, TBI, Su***de, Survivors guilt, and other issues combat veterans face.
This was their first major outing with a mixed group of veterans. We were very glad to host the group but there are always going to be some barriers. At the ranch we have biblical and God driven approach to the same issue that veterans face and some of the veterans that came were sort of opposed to our willingness to share our stories on how the Lord rescued us in our trauma. I talked with one in particular and she didn't really want to hear our testimonies. Which is absolutely fine with us...not here to judge or condemn. If you don't want to listen, then by all means get up and politely walk away. Again, we're not going to point fingers, we know that Father God will find another avenue in which to reach these folks.
I did also speak with the "The Ranch Foundation" founders and asked about how they approach God, especially since there are bible believing members in the group. Their issue is funding. They don't think that they will get the necessary funding for their group should they identify as a "Christian" organization. I thought it was rather funny that we at the ranch are open book for Christian Ministry hence the name "The Ranch Ministries" and our group has been around for 30+ years.
I believe that groups like theirs need to step back and look at their approach. You don't have to label yourselves as a God-fearing organization, but you need to recognize who truly is control. I did enjoy the approach and the commitment of the group. I saw how it drew these broken folks together and there was a positive atmosphere. From my point of view...adding Christ into the mix would be a positive, so making that avenue available without pushing religion down someone's throat would be a bonus. Blessings to them all and the challenges they face, as this group builds into a worthy healing outlet for veterans.

Peace and grace to you all - Leave a comment if you like and let me know how you'd approach this situation. -Dave

08/03/2026

When I get the chance to share my thoughts on my experiences throughout my life, I have to remind myself that Father God has placed people in my path for a reason. Some are for a day, others a season, and a very, very few for a lifetime.
You will only have one or two best friends. Let me detail that out for you. These best friends are the ones you share the good, bad, and ugliness of your life. Secrets that will remain guarded till the grave. They are there when you need them to be and they don't ask questions...they just show up. They also reciprocate, sharing their personal triumphs and failures...you are kindred spirits...the proverbial peas in a pod. You can finish each other's thoughts at times.
The greatest part of all is the strength you both draw from the Lord. You'll seek Father God's counsel, Christs cup of grace, and the Spirits insights into truth and life. You both will take turns leading the journey wherever Abba directs it so that neither of you tires and falls behind.
So, brothers and sisters, take the time to nurture those unique relationships...it is wonderful gift from the Father because He knows what it will accomplish for His glory.

- Have a blessed day...Dave

08/03/2026

Veteran Crisis Line:

- Phone: Dial 988, then press 1

- Text: Send a text message to 838255

- Chat: Visit "Veterans Crisis Line Chat"

- Hearing Loss (TTY): Dial 711 then 988, or call 1-800-799-4889

Available 24/7, available to everyone associated with military members...active duty, guard, reserve, retired, family, and friends.

You can remain anonymous and share only what you are comfortable with.

**Friends, just a reminder that there are a lot of ways to seek help in a time of crisis. Find one! It's important...you are here because you have a purpose, you just haven't been connected with it yet.**

Father God, you know our coming and going. Your design for our lives is perfect in every way and all we need to do is seek you out and be patient. It's difficult at times but the wait is always worth it in the end when we realize that You Lord where always providing what was best for us. Thank you for all that you do behind the veil.

Amen

Address

721 N 75th Street
Omaha, NE
68114

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Post Traumatic Growth Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category